By Jake Donovan
Katie Taylor is days away from her undisputed lightweight championship showdown with Belgium’s Delfine Persoon, yet is already viewed by at least one rabid supporter at the top of her respective field.
The 2012 Olympic Gold medalist from Dublin, Ireland and reigning unbeaten three-belt titlist is on the short list of consideration for the best female boxer, pound-for-pound in the world today. She can further her cause with a win on Saturday, as she puts her three lightweight belts on the line versus Persoon who holds the division’s last big chip as they collide at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden.
“This is it, for all the marbles. What moment to fight for the undisputed championship at Madison Square Garden,” notes promoter Eddie Hearn of Taylor’s second appearance at the famed venue. She played the Garden last December, handing 130-pound titlist Eva Wahlstrom her first loss via 10-round shutout.
Others whom lay claim to the pound-for-pound crown are boxing’s only two current undisputed champs, welterweight queen Cecilia Braekhus and middleweight ruler (and two-time Olympic Gold medalist) Claressa Shields. Also in the mix is Amanda Serrano, the only female boxer ever to win major titles in seven weight divisions and Puerto Rico’s only boxer—male or female—to win titles in five or more divisions.
Tough to overlook is the tear that Taylor (13-0, 6KOs) has been ever since turning pro in Nov. 2016. Her first major title win came just 11 months into her pro career, unseating Argentina’s Anahi Sanchez in Oct. 2017. Saturday’s upcoming World lightweight championship clash with Persoon (43-1, 18KOs) will mark the seventh time in her past eight fights facing a former, current or future major titlist.
In Persoon, Taylor matches up with a defending titlist who has not lost in nearly nine years. The 34-year old Belgian is currently riding a 34-fight win streak as she attempts the 10th defense of the WBC lightweight title she acquired more than five years ago.
A win by Taylor on Saturday could hail her as pound-for-pound queen. If you ask her greatest admirer, she’s not just already there but historically unmatched.
“I love Claressa, but for me Katie Taylor is the best female fighter of all time,” insists Hearn, who couldn’t wait to sign Taylor right after the 2016 Rio Olympics. “Claressa Shields is also amazing, but Katie is my girl and I just think she’s amazing.”
Taylor-Persoon comes in supporting capacity to the U.S. debut of England’s unbeaten, unified heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua who defends his titles versus Andy Ruiz.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox